Heavy metal exposure and hepatitis C virus infection: A cross-sectional study

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a Flaviviridae virus transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids or utilization of non-sterile instruments. HCV has a high probability of progressing to a chronic infection, which leaves the individual susceptible to a multitude of other complications. Exposure to metals is common and difficult to avoid in the environment because of their widespread use in multiple industries.

In this study, barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), thallium (Tl), tin (Sn), and tungsten (W) were analyzed with their association on HCV infection prevalence.

The prevalence of HCV infection was analyzed using the Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset for 2013-2020, including 2017-March 2020 pre-pandemic data. Weighted complex logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations of metal levels with HCV status for 18,073 participants aged 20-80 (n = 5751 urine samples collected out of 18,073).

HCV was associated with increasing urinary Co [odds ratio (OR) 1.179; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.056, 1.316]. Tungsten (W) Q3 and Q4 showed a higher prevalence of HCV compared to W values below the detection limit (dl) with ORs 13.623 and 11.687, respectively. Molybdenum (Mo) showed significant increases in ORs of being HCV-positive across quartiles Q2, Q3, and Q4 (ORs 7.186, 5.472, and 8.579, respectively), compared to the lowest quartile (Q1) of Mo.

Overall, HCV infection was positively associated with exposure to Co, W, and Mo. These findings are significant in highlighting the intersection of environmental health and disease manifestation in public health research.